Paul Ryan Endorses Kevin McCarthy To Become Next House Speaker

While Majority Whip Steve Scalise, of Louisiana, has said repeatedly he wouldn't challenge McCarthy in a head-to-head race, a leadership source told CNN earlier this week that Scalise's intention was to be ready if McCarthy couldn't garner the votes.

House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., endorsed House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy for speaker Friday, a move likely meant to clear the field and make way for his top deputy.

During an interview Friday, Ryan endorsed Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy as his successor.

But Representative Jim Jordan of OH, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus and a leading congressional critic of the Justice Department's and FBI's handling of the Russia-Trump investigation, said Friday he is considering a bid for a leadership post.

House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) makes a statement before President Donald Trump signs H.R. 1865, the "Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017" at The White House in Washington, DC, March 11, 2018.

Ultimately, Ryan's endorsement is symbolic, but it also carries a lot of weight among rank-and-file House Republicans.

"I would fully support Jordan", said Jones. McCarthy ran for Speaker in 2015 following the resignation of Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) but withdrew from the race at the last minute and Ryan was elected. "Bad idea", said Republican representative Charlie Dent. Some conservative House members were unhappy with him.

Other Republicans, such as New York Representative Peter King, expressed wariness about the bid by conservatives, who've pressed the party not to compromise with Democrats. With Democrats ahead about 7 points on the most current generic ballot, the 2018 midterms are poised to be a blue wave election year.

"I think what we want to do is focus on getting our jobs done, what we want to do is focus on executing our agenda, focus on fighting for our majority, and all these other things would be needless distractions from the task at hand", Ryan said.

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